WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS.

WE ARE ONE YEAR AWAY FROM THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S. SENATE, THE U.S. HOUSE, AND SEATS IN THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND WE'RE JUST TWO YEARS FROM THE 2023 RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

REPUBLICANS JUST WON THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, AND THE RACE IN NEW JERSEY WAS CLOSER THAN EXPECTED.

DO THOSE RESULTS HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANCE FOR KENTUCKY?

TO DISCUSS THIS AND MUCH MORE WE .

ARE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY ELLEN WILLIAMS WITH OWNER OF THE POLITICAL CONSULTING AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FIRM ELLEN WILLIAMS LLC.

COLMON ELDRIDGE, CHAIR OF KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

AMY WICKLIFFE, LEGISLATIVE AGENT AND PARTNER WITH MCCARTHY STRATEGIC AND CASSIE CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG, LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCILMEMBER.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

TONIGHT, SO SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT ON TWITTER @KYTONIGH SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

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WELCOME THE EVERYONE.

IN THE SAY.

PLACE UNDERNEATH THE SAME ROOF.

IT'S VERY NICE.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS TO SEE YOU ALL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NATIONAL AND STATE POLITICS.

WELL, WE HAVE HAD SOME ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT A REGULAR CYCLE FOR US, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT KIND OF WHERE WE TEASED IT AT THE TOP.

COLMON, I'LL START WITH YOU.

LOOKING AT THE NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACES AND HOW THEY TURNED OUT, TERRY McAULIFFE FALLING TO A POLITICAL NEWCOMER, A BUSINESSMAN AND THEN NEW JERSEY, THAT WAS JUST A RAZOR THIN MARGIN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR THERE.

SO DOES THAT MAKE DEMOCRATS SCARED ABOUT WHAT THAT SIGNALS FOR 2022 MIDTERMS .

>> FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> SURE.

>> ALTHOUGH I'M GOING TO SAY A QUICK HELLO TO MY THREE-YEAR-OLD WHO THINKS I'M HERE WITH SESAME STREET CHARACTERS TONIGHT, SO -- [LAUGHTER] >> WE'RE ARE THE STOHR TO DISAPPOINT.

>> MAYBE HERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS MUCH BETTER FOR MY SANITY.

>> WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

YOU CAN TELL THEM.

>> WE'LL FIND OUT.

BUT, LOOK, I THINK THAT THOSE RACES WERE TOUGH.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, KENTUCKY'S NO VIRGINIA.

KENTUCKY'S NOT NEW JERSEY.

AND THOSE CANDIDATES RAN I THINK RACES SPECIFIC TO THEIR STATE.

SO I THINK HERE IN KENTUCKY WE WATCHED, WE'VE LEARNED SOME THINGS ABOUT HOW CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WILL COME AT GOVERNOR BESHEAR, WILL COME AT SOME OF OUR HOUSE AND SENATE, STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE RACES, BUT I DON'T -- I DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH AWAY FROM THOSE RACES.

>> YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS A REFERENDUM ON PRESIDENT BIDEN OR ARE THERE OTHER FACTORS?

IS THAT OVERSIMPLIFYING IT TO SAY THAT HAVE BEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FACTORS?

>> I DON'T.

I THINK THE VOTERS IN THOSE STATES MADE LOCAL DECISIONS, AND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS -- MAKE THESE RACES ABOUT KENTUCKY.

AND NOW, DO I WISH THAT CONGRESS HAD GOTTEN SOME THINGS DONE PRIOR TO THAT ELECTION DATE?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS A REFERENDUM ON THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OR THE PRESIDENT.

>> ELLEN WILLIAMS, DO YOU THINK IF CONGRESS HAD PASSED AND THE PRESIDENT HAD SIGNED THE $1.2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THAT THE PRESIDENT JUST SIGNED TODAY, BEFORE THOSE ELECTIONS EARLIER THIS MONTH, IT COULD HAVE MAY A DIFFERENCE IN AND MITCH MOM WHO IS NOW THE MINORITY LEADER SAID HE FEELS VERY GOOD ABOUT THE 2022 MIDTERMS.

>> WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH WHAT COLMAN SAID BECAUSE I THINK NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA MOST DEFINITELY WERE A REFERENDUM ON THE PRESIDENT.

I THINK VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED, THEY'RE ANGRY.

EDUCATION PLAYED IN BIG IN VIRGINIA FOR YOUNGIN.

TERRY McAULIFFE MADE A STATEMENT THAT PARENTS SHOULDN'T HAVE A SAY IN CURRICULUM, AND I THINK THERE WAS A BACKLASH THERE.

THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH RISING GAS PRICES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, INFLATION, AND THEY'RE JUST -- THERE WAS FRUSTRATION AND ANGER AND SO THEY WENT TO THE POLLS AND THEY VOTED REPUBLICAN IN VIRGINIA AND THEY ELECTED TWO OTHER STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDERS AS WELL.

IN NEW JERSEY BIDEN WON BOTH STATES BY OVER 10 POINTS SO FOR NEW JERSEY TO BARELY WIN.

>> WHICH IS A RELIABLY BLUE STATE.

>> TOTALLY.

AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT ABOUT, DEMOCRAT WAS BEAT BY A TRUCK DRIVER WHO FILED, SPENT $150 AND HE BEAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT IN NEW JERSEY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE GENERIC BALLOT FOR CONGRESSIONAL IS 51% REPUBLICAN.

THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE LOREN BARACK OBAMA'S WERE AT THIS TIME.

AND IN 2009, IF YOU REMEMBER DEMOCRATS LOST VIRGINIA AND THEY LOST NEW JERSEY.

AND THEN IN 2010 REPUBLICANS WON 60 SEATS.

SO I THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I APPLY WHAT MITCH DID.

OUR STATE DESPERATELY NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS.

WE NEED THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

HE AND YARMOUTH ARE THE ONLY TWO MEMBERS.

>> WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY DELEGATION, APP ALL REPUBLICAN WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR IT?

>> I THINK THE HOUSE MEMBERS MADE A DECISION AMONGST THEMSELVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

McCONNELL IS THE MAJORITY LEADER AND HE FELT LIKE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTRY, AND SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO STEP OUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING, AND HE FELT STRONGLY THAT IT NEEDED TO BE PASSED.

>> AND KENTUCKY GETS WHAT?

$4.6BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS?

>> YEAH.

AND THERE IS A LITTLE KNOWN TALKED ABOUT GRANT FOR MEGA PROJECTS, A GRANT POOL OR WHATEVER, AND SOJO AND KENTUCKY, OHIO AND KENTUCKY CAN JOINTLY APPLY FOR MONEY FOR THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, AND IF AWARDED WE WON'T EAT INTO THE $4.7 BILLION THAT THE SAY THE GETS STATE GETS FOR OTHER PROJECTS.

>> CASEY CAMBRIDGE, KEVIN MECHANIC CARTHY SAID HE EXPECTS THAT HOUSE REPUBLICAN COULD PICK UP 60 SEATS.

NOW THE OTHER PUNDITS SAY 40.

HOW DOES THAT SIT WITH YOU?

DID YOU DO YOU THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO CALL THIS DOOM AND GLOOM FOR THE THE DEMOCRATS IN 2022?

>> I DO THINK IT'S TOO EARLY.

IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED TO SEE THE THAT PARTY THAT'S IN POWER BE WITH PARTICULARLY THE PARTY OF A SITTING PRESIDENT, IS GOING TO LOSE SOME SEATS, LOSE SOMETHING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MIDTERM OR WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNORS' RACES RIGHT AFTER AN ELECTION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND 2022 AND THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT POLICIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT AMERICA.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS GOING TO COME THROUGH.

BUILD BACK BETTER HOPEFULLY WILL BE PASSING IN JUST A MATTER OF WAX.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THAT FRUSTRATION ELLEN IS TALK ABOUT, I THINK PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TWO YEARS FOR PEOPLE.

BUT WE'RE BEGINNING TO HAVE MOMENT AND AM WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE POLICIES GET THROUGH, AND THOSE POLICIES ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO FAMILIES, MAKE THEIR WAY TO COMMUNITIES, AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE START SEEING DEMOCRATS AT THESE RIBBON CUTTINGS SAYING, WE VOTED FOR THIS.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ELECTED DEMOCRATS AND YOU SEE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, ELLEN SAID THEY MADE A CHOICE.

SOME MIGHT SAY THE CHOICE THEY MADE A PARTY POLITICS OVER THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS' INTEREST, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A POWERFUL MESSAGE, AND I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE TANGIBLE THINGS PEOPLE CAN POINT TO IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DEMOCRATS GOVERNING.

>> AMY WICKLIFFE, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THINGS WENT IN NEW JERSEY IN.

>> I THINK TO ELLEN'S POINT, INFLATION NUMBERS AND HIGHER GAS PRICES, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS VOTERS -- AND I'VE SAID THIS FOR YEARS -- THEY REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING IN AND COMING OUT OF THEIR WALLET AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE ARE NO FEELING SOME ECONOMIC PAIN RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THEY ARE FRUSTRATED, AND I THINK WE SAW THAT PLAY OUT IN THOSE TWO STATES.

I THINK THAT THAT WILL STILL RESONATE AS WE MOVE INTO 2022.

I THINK BIDEN'S LOW APPROVAL NUMBERS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT TO GET THOSE BACK TO A POSITION WHERE THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP DEMOCRATS.

SO I THINK THE WAY THAT WE ARE TRENDING, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN PAST RATES RACES, I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY GOING INTO 2022.

>> SO TO TALK ABOUT BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS, 71% OF VOTERS INCLUDING HALF OF DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

64% OF AMERICANS DON'T WANT BIDEN TO EVEN SEEK A SECOND TERM.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO USA TODAY AND THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY POLL.

COLMAN ELDRIDGE, THAT DOESN'T BOWED WELL.

71%, INCLUDING HALF OF DEMOCRATS, BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT METRIC TO JUDGE THE SUCCESS OF AN EARLY PRESIDENCY, IS IT NOT?

>> LOOK, WE ARE 11 MONTHS INTO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THOSE POLL NUMBERS ARE A I. I AYLY REFLECTION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, TIN FIGHTING AMONG OUR OWN PARTY.

I WISH THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE BUT I THINK WHEN YOU -- YOU SHOW HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, UNFORTUNATELY, FOLKS TUNE OUT, AND I WILL SAY, TO AMY'S POINT, INSTEAD OF BEING FOCUSED ON HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT FRANKLY WHAT FOLKS NEED IS BEING DONE, THERE'S THIS WEIRD THING GOING ON IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW WHERE IT'S THIS BACK-AND-FORTH AMONG DEMOCRATS, AND SO I THINK THE PRESIDENT'S APPROVAL RATINGS ARE IN PART BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT HE CAN'T CONTROL LIKE INFLATION.

BUT I ALSO THINK IN THOSE NUMBERS WHAT YOU SEE IS THE FRUSTRATION OF -- THAT SOMETIMES IS UNFORTUNATELY BUT AT THE PERSON AT THE TOP -- PUT AT THE PERSON AT THE TOP OF THIS WEARINESS WITH COVID, THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONCE AGAIN HAVING TO ADJUST OUR LIVES BECAUSE FRANKLY OF THE POLICIES OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S TOUGH.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY AND THE REASON THAT I AM NOT AS PESSIMISTIC AS MY FRIEND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HOPE I AM IS THAT I THINK WE ARE 11 MONTHS IN, AND THE PRESIDENT HAD A BIG WIN TODAY IN SIGNING THE TRANSPORTATION BILL OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

I BELIEVE THE BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA IS GOING TO PASS.

AND WHEN PEOPLE START TO SEE THOSE POLICIES REFLECTED IN JOBS BEING CREATED, IN CHILD CARE CREDITS GOING INTO HOUSEHOLD, THERE'S ONE PARTY THAT HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE FAMILIES OF THIS COUNTRY AND OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, AND THERE'S ONE PARTY THAT'S ABDICATED THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

THE FACT ARE THE FACT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT THIS PRESIDENT WILL REBOUND, THAT THIS PARTY WILL REBOUND AND WILL DO SO WITH ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND THIS NATION UNDERSTAND WHO HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR THEM.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD ASK, SO WHERE IS BIDEN WHO SAID HE WAS BEING A MODERATE AND A CENTRIST AND A UNITER?

IS HE BERNIE SANDERS TYPE OR IS HE GOVERNOR -- I ALWAYS CALL HIM GOVERNOR MANSION -- SENATOR MANSION, WHERE DOES HE FALL IN THAT?

AND HOW DOES HE PIVOT?

AND DO YOU BELIEVE THIS ADMINISTRATION, LIKE BILL CLINTON DID AFTER '93 AND '94, HE CAME BACK WITH A CRIME BILL.

WE CAME BACK WITH A WELFARE TO WORK IDEA, MORE CENTRIST IDEAS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS READY TO PIVOT IN A WAY THAT IS MORE CENTRIST IN ORDER TO HAVE TOWS NUMBERS.

>> I DON'T THINK THIS PRESIDENT NEEDS TO PIVOT AT ALL.

INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICIPANT ME, IS NOT A LEFT, RIGHT OR CENTER.

>> THE BUILD BACK BETTER MAY BE PERCEIVED A BEING FAR MORE PROGRESSIVE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, I'M A DAD OF THREE LITTLE ONES.

THE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN BUILD BACK BETTER AREN'T LEFT, RIGHT OR CENTER.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT AFFECT MY POCKETBOOK, THE POCKETBOOKS OF FOLKS THAT I RUN INTO AT KROGER EVERY DAY.

I AM THERE EVERY DAY, SO I HEAR A LOT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HE NEEDS TO PIVOT ONE WAY OR THE THE OTHER.

I THINK THE AGENDA THE THAT PRESIDENT HAS LAID OUT, THE AGENDA FRANKLY THAT GOT HIM ELECTED IS AN AGENDA THAT IS FOCUSED ON FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FAMILIES NEED.

AND SO I ACTUALLY WOULD REJECT THE NOTION THAT THERE'S A NEED TO PIVOT RIGHT OR LEFT.

I THINK HE IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> SO ELLEN WILLIAMS, YOU PROBABLY ARE HOPEFUL THAT HE DOES STAY THE COURSE THE WAY HE'S CHARTING RIGHT NOW AND MAYBE CUR IS MORE FAVOR THE WITH PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY.

>> WELL, THEY DO HAVE A FIGHT GOING ON WITHIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

IN THIS NEXT SPENDING BILL THAT ALL THE CONVERSATIONS ARE ABOUT, McCONNELL SAID IN AN INTERVIEW JUST RECENTLY, WHATEVER THE HOUSE PASSES, THE HOUSE WILL PASS.

WHEN IT GETS TO THE SENATE, THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO PEOPLE.

>> TWO PEOPLE.

AND WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED ONE NAME.

>> IN THAT BILL.

AND IT'S BILL MANSION AND KYRSTEN SINEMA.

SO WHATEVER THEY SAY IS WHAT IT WILL BE.

AND IT WILL BE A MORE CENTRIST BILL BUT MANSION IS SAYING LET'S HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON AND LET'S KIND OF WAIT A WHILE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SUSPECT MAYBE THEY WILL HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON IN THE SENATE.

MAYBE THE HOUSE PASSES SOMETHING.

MAYBE THEY DON'T.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JOE BIDEN IS WHO HE IS.

I MEAN, HE'S MORE LIKE SCHUMER AND BENDERS THAN HE IS LIKE JOE MANCHIN, AND MANSION -- BENDERS AND MANSION AND THE 50/50 SPLIT IN THE SENATE THEY HAVE TO COME BACK MORE TOWARD THE MIDDLE IN ORDER TO PASS SOMETHING.

>> AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK BIDEN, DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL RACE -- RIGHT?

-- POSITIONED HIMSELF AND COUCHED HIMSELF AS A MORE MODERATE PERSON WHO WOULD BE MORE RELATABLE TO THE ELECTORATE OR A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING IN THAT RACE, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'VE FOUND OUT, AND THOSE OF US WHO KNEW, HE'S NOT A MODERATE, AND SO WE'RE SEEING THAT, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE VERY VOCAL PART ON THE PROGRESSIVE SIDE OF THE PARTY WITH THE A OEMC ANDS THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO IN THE BENDERS AND THOSE BENDERS AND WHERE WILL BIDEN LAND AS HE MOVES INTO HIS NEXT RE-ELECTION IF HE DOES INDEED DECIDE TO RUN AGAIN.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER ARE PEOPLE -- SOME PEOPLE WHO CROSSED OVER TO FORT BINDER ARE THEY HAVING BUYERS' REMORSE.

>> AND I WANT TO GET TO YOU, CASEY CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG, ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT SO.

THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ON THE SUNDAY TALK SHOWS ABOUT HER ROLE AND HER BEING CONCERNED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT THE TALK WAS SHE'S NO BEING PREPARED FOR THE PARKING LOT IS I, THAT SHE'S NOTE OUT THERE ENOUGH.

THE VISIBILITY OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, IS SHE AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY?

>> I THINK SHE'S AN ASSET.

I SAW SHE WAS FRONT AND CENTER AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SIGNING TODAY, MARCHED OUT, FIRST ONE UP TO THE MIC, SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE NEED FOR THESE REFORMS AND THIS BILL IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK SHE'S CERTAINLY AN ASSET, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE A BLACK WOMAN IN LEADERSHIP IN OUR COUNTRY, AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO -- I THINK WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SQUABBLING AND THE INFIGHTING GOING ON WITH DEMOCRATS AND IS THAT A LIABILITY AND HOW THAT GOING TO PLAY.

I THINK WE SHOULD ALL STEP BACK AND REMEMBER THAT WE JUST PASSED ONE OF THE BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY, AND, YES, THERE'S DISAGREEMENT AND DISCUSSION, AS THERE SHOULD BE, BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND WITHIN THE PARTIES ABOUT WHAT THAT SHOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR AMERICA.

WE'RE TALKING SORT OF LIKE NEW DEAL LEVEL SPENDING.

>> THE '50s, I THINK WE HAVEN'T HAD 24 BIG.

>> SO I DON'T THINK THAT SORT OF INVESTIGATE THAT PUBLICLY AND HAVING A INVESTIGATE PROPS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HOLD AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS IN THE LONG RUN.

SURE IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE AT THE THANKSGIVING TABLE FIGHTING.

LIKE THIS.

I DON'T LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A BIG CHANGE BEING DELIVERED FOR TOWER COUNTRY, AND I THINK JUST LIKE AT THE HOLIDAYS, ONCE YOU STEP BACK FOR A SECOND ONE REALIZE HOW TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE THESE BILLS ARE AND ARE GOING TO BE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD THE CHANCE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HE COULD HAVE -- IT COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE LEGISLATIVE VICTORY FOR HIM.

I MEAN, HE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND YET THAT WASN'T WHAT CAME OUT OF THE GATE.

I MEAN, THE REPUBLICANS COULD HAVE OWNED THIS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> THEY COULD HAVE BUT THEY DIDN'T, SO I MEAN -- >> AND LET'S BE MATTER, RENEE, THAT THEY COULD HAVE OWNED IT THIS TIME AROUND AS WELL.

THEY COULD HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND PUT, AS CASSIE SAID, YOU KNOW, BUT COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY -- PUT COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY.

IT JUST DUMB FOUND ME REALLY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THOMAS MASSEY, WHO HAS THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE IN HIS DISTRICT, CAST A NO VOTE IT.

DUMB FOUND ME THAT HAL ROGERS CARES SO LITTLE ABOUT BROADBAND AND THAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN HIS DISTRICT THAT HE WOULD RATHER WAVE THE WHITE FLAG TO FOLKS IN HIS DISTRICT BEING ABLE TO STAY THERE, BE A PART OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, AND INSTEAD HE VOTES NO OUT OF LOYALTY TO A PARTY VERSUS LOYALTY TO THE PEOPLE OF HIS DISTRICT AND THIS COUNTRY.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHANCE AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THIS AND TO GET IT RIGHT, AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY THEY HAVE ABDICATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

AND SO THAT IS WHY AGAIN -- AND I JUST WANT TO GO BACK.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SURPRISE THAT I DISAGREE WITH MY FRIEND, AND WE REALLY ARE FRIENDS, SO I HATE DISAGREEING WITH YOU AT TIMES, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS JOE BIDEN L. JOE BIDEN IS NOT CHUCK SCHUMER.

HE'S NOT NANCY PELOSI.

THESE ARE SCARE TACTICS THAT THEY USE OAT RIGHT TO SAY, OH, THESE FAR RIGHT LIBERAL.

JOE BIDEN FROM SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, IS NOT NANCY PELOSI, IS NOT CHUCK SCHUMER, AND THE POLICIES THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT AREN'T FAR LEFT KIND OF AOC TYPE POLICIES.

THESE INFRASTRUCTURE AGAIN IS SOMETHING THAT DROMORAN ON.

HE SAID I KNOW HOW TO MAKE FAMILIES I CAN GET THIS DONE.

CRICKETS.

CRICKETS.

>> HAL ROGERS IS FIGHTING FOR BROADBAND AND MAKING INVESTMENTS THROUGH FEDERAL DOLLARS, WORKING WITH THE STATE MORE THAN ANYBODY AND BEFORE BROADBAND WAS REALLY TALKED ABOUT, SO -- >> WHERE IS HE NOW?

WHY A NO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN THAT DISTRICT?

>> HAL ROGERS ALWAYS HAS A GOOD REASON TO VOTE THE WAY HE VOTES, BUT HAL ROGERS HAS DONE AS MUCH NOR THAT DISTRICT, HE'S DONE MORE FORE THAT DISTRICT.

AND BROADBAND IS A BIG COMPONENT OF WHAT HE'S DONE.

>> AND THAT COULD BE ABSOLUTELY TRUE, ELLEN.

>> IT IS TRUE.

>> BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WHEN HE COULD STAND UP AND BE THE STATESMAN THAT WE OFTEN HOPE HE IS, HE CHOSE TO BE A REPUBLICAN INSTEAD OF A KENTUCKIAN.

>> SO LET'S GET BACK TIE POINT THAT AMY WAS MAKING ABOUT IF PRESIDENT BIDEN WERE TO SEEK RE-ELECTION, SO THE HILLS OPINION CONTRIBUTOR JOE CONFIRMING A NAME DROPPED THREE DEMS WHO COULD HELP THE PARTY KEEP THE WHITE HOUSE.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PEET BUD A GENERAL A SOUTH FOURTH SEND GOVERNOR.

CITY'S ADAMS WHO LOST A AS HAS A HUGE TALENT FOR FUNDRAISING.

AND THE THIRD NAME, ANDY BESHEAR.

CITED THE ECONOMICS SUCCESSES, THE JOBLESS RATE BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AMONG THE TOP TEN STATES THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO IN THE NATION.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU, CASSIE.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THAT HE'S ON THE SHORT LIST SOMEBODY WHO COULD BE A PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER IN A REAL WAY?

>> I THINK WHAT WE WHAT WE ALL IN KENTUCKY SHOULD RECOGNIZED, THAT HE HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF GOVERNING IN THIS STATE.

THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY IS ON FIRE, AND JUST THIS WEEK WE ANNOUNCED 15,000 JOBS AND $10 BILLION IN INVESTMENT, AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN LOUISVILLE AND IN LEXINGTON.

THAT'S IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WE ARE SEEING THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY CATCH FIRE.

AND SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE NOTICING THAT AND NOTICING THE WAYS THAT WE'RE PROMOTING INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE, FROM ELECTRONIC CAR BATTERIES TO AGRI-TECH TO THESE NEXT WAVE JOBS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE KENTUCKY A DESTINATION FOR THESE TOP TIER COMPANIES.

AND SO I THINK ANDY BESHEAR IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK.

I'M GLAD PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE -- >> THERE'S A STATEMENT IN POLITICS SOMETIMES, I'D RATHER BE LUCKY THAN GOOD, AND I THINK ANDY BESHEAR HAS BEEN VERY LUCKY.

HE IS RIDING THE HAVE WAVE OF GOOD POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S DRAWN PEOPLE TO KENTUCKY.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN RECENTLY POLLING IN KENTUCKY ABOUT HIS APPROVAL RATINGS, THOUGH.

IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS.

>> WEI NOT.

>> SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S FARING HERE.

MAYBE ON NATIONAL SCENE -- >> I THINK HE'S FARING OKAY IN KENTUCKY.

>> DO YOU THINK SO IN 50% ABOVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S ABOVE 50 BUT I THINK HE'S NOT IN BAD SHAPE IN KENTUCKY.

>> BUT HE IS PROBABLY VULNERABLE ON TIE REPUBLICAN CONTENDER.

>> THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE STATE.

>> AND WHEN WHETHER YOU LOOK AT JUST OUR -- THE RAW DATA ON OUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATISTICS CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT A BAROMETER TO LOOK AT IS WHERE THE VOTERS HAVE GONE SINCE GOVERNOR BESHEAR TOOK OFFICE.

SO DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST ABOUT 38,000 VOTERS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE GAINED 109,000.

I THINK THAT SPEAKS.

>> AND INDEPENDENCES ARE GAINING.

>> I ALSO WANT TO GO BACK TO ARTICLE.

I THINK -- NO DISRESPECT TO THE GOVERNOR BUT THERE WERE SOME THINGS IN THAT ARTICLE THAT I THINK WHAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE AN OUT-OF STATE POLITICAL -- POLITICO WHO MAYBE DOESN'T TALK TO EVERYBODY WHO WOULD WANT TO ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION AND TRIES TO PONTIFICATE ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN KENTUCKY AND HOW THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, HOW HIS GOVERNING HAS GONE IN HIS FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY HARD TO MEASURE A GOVERNOR WHEN THE ONLY ISSUE THAT HIS FIRST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY CONSUMED WITH COVID.

ANDY BESHEAR DID NOT WIN AND THINK, OH, GREAT, I'M GOING GET TO GO GOVERN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AND JUST TALK ABOUT COVID FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

HE DIDN'T PLAN ON THAT.

THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK FORE THAT.

BUT I DO THINK IT WAS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE.

BUT AGAIN I THINK IT'S OUT OF STATE KIND LOOKING IN.

>> AND HE IS COMING UP ON HIS MIDTERM JUST IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> LET ME -- YOU KNOW, ANDY BESHEAR IS -- IS GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES.

IT'S NOT LUCK.

I HATE TO PUSH BACK AGAIN ON THAT NARRATIVE, BUT IT'S NOT LUCK WHEN CASEY TALKS ABOUT THE 15,000 FULL-TIME JOBS, $10 BILLION.

THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK TO DO ALL OF THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

BUT IT'S BECAUSE HE IS AS GOOD AS HIS WORD.

HE TOLD THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT HE WAS GOING TO FOCUS LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT ON BRINGING JOBS TO KENTUCKY.

HE PROMISED THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT HE WAS NEVER GOING TO TELL THEM SOMETHING THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A LIE.

AND HE HAS BEEN IN THE LIVING ROOMS AND THE KITCHEN TABLES OF KENTUCKIANS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE FOLKS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH KNOW HIM.

THEY TRUST HIM.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS MADE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT FRANKLY HAVE KEPT PEOPLE ALIVE.

>> AND NOT EVERYBODY HAS AGREED WITH THOSE DECISIONS.

>> NOT EVERYBODY HAS AGREED WITH THEM BUT HE HAS STILL MADE THOSE.

NOW, YOU SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT WHEN THE REPUBLICANS SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, COACH, PUT US IN THE GAME, THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS SAY, WELL, HERE'S A PIZZA COUPON.

ALL ROBERT STIVERS WAS MISSING WAS A BONNETT AND SAYING, LET THEM EAT CAKE.

THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWN-UP LEADERSHIP.

>> OH, WOW.

>> AND REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO FRANKLY ABDICATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN.

SO WHEN YOU SEE AN ARTICLE LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS OUT OF STATE AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE TENOR ARE WHAT'S GOING ON IN KENTUCKY.

THEY SEED AN ADULT SITTING AT THE TABLE MAKING DECISIONS, SAVING LIVES, BRINGING JOBS, DOING THE HARD WORK OF GOVERNING IN A RED STATE.

>> SO THE REPUBLICAN PLAN TO MITIGATE THE PANDEMIC, IS IT MORE THAN PIZZA PARTIES AND PRIZES?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY IT IS, AND WE SAW THAT WHEN THEY CAME BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION AND THEY HANDED OVER LOCAL CONTROL SO THAT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS COULD MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND SCHOOL BOARDS COULD MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID IN MEADE COUNTY IS NOT THE SAME OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PIKE COUNTY AND SO THATTAL LOCALLAL CONTROL, AND THAT'S NO SURPRISE.

THAT'S TYPICALLY WHERE REPUBLICANS GO.

BUT I THINK TO SAY THAT ROBERT STIVERS' ONLY IDEA WAS A PIZZA PARTY COUPON IS NOT FAIR.

>> TRUE.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK TO HOW TO LURE THESE JOBS AND MAKE THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS DURING A PANDEMIC.

THERE IS A PLAYBOOK, AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PLAYING THAT PLAYBOOK AND THEY WROTE IT WHEN THEY TOOK SUPER MAJORITIES.

IT IS BECAUSE, AND TO ELLEN'S POINT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE STORY THAT IS MISSED, AND, LOOK, WE'VE ALL BEEN AROUND MANY GOVERNORS AND THEY GET THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THEY GET TO BE IN THOSE ROOMS AND THEY GET TO BE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE LAST DAYS, BUT IT IS BECAUSE OF SMART CHANGES TO OUR TAX CODE TO MAKE KENTUCKY MORE COMPETITIVE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET, INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION.

I COULD GO ON AND ON.

IT IS THAT ENVIRONMENT THIS THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES HAVE PLACED KENTUCKY IN, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART TO MISS, IS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE AND LURE THESE JOBS AND COMPANIES AND EXPANSIONS DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

IT TAKES A WHILE.

>> THE PUSHBACK WAS SO EXTREME IN THE BEGINNING OF COVID BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, BUT WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAME BACK IN THIS LAST SESSION, THEY TIGHTENED UP THE LENGTH OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, HOW THEY COME ABOUT, AND MADE SURE THAT DID COMMUNITIES, THE COUNTY JUDGES, THE SCHOOL BOARDS, THE MAYORS COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT WERE RIGHT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> REALLY -- >> ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL.

>> WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID WAS GRAB A BUNCH HOUR FOR FOR ITSELF AND TRYING TO BE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> AMY RAISED A GOOD POINT OVER HOW THE GENERAL IT.

>> GOVERNOR WORK TOGETHER, AND I ACTUALLY THINK KENTUCKIANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER IN A BARN WAY.

I THINK WE, UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE HAD FOUR YEARS OF AWFUL, NASTY, DIVISIVE RHETORIC THAT PITTED COMMUNITIES AGAINST EACH OTHER AND BROUGHT OUT, QUITE FRANKLY, THE WORST IN OUR HUMANITY IN A LOT OF WAYS, AND I THINK WHAT KENTUCKIANS APPRECIATE ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR IS HE ACTUALLY HAS MADE EFFORTS TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE.

NOW, THE GENERAL -- SOS SUPER MAJORITIES THAT AMY WAS TALKING WITH HAVE REBUFFED HUM AND MADE HIS LIFE MORE DATE OF EVERY TURN IN PART BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT HIM TO SUCCEED OR TO GET ANY CREDIT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY WANT THE NARRATIVE TOBY THAT HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THAT MOST KENTUCKIANS, IF YOU ASK THEM, THAT THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY APPRECIATE HIS BIPARTISAN EFFORTS.

THEY APPRECIATE THAT HE REACHES OUT AND TRIES TO WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, AND THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR ELECTED LEADERSHIP 1 IS THAT KIND OF COMING TOGETHER AROUND BIG PROBLEMS, NOT INFIGHT CAN, NOT TRYING TO CLAIM CREDIT.

>> BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRITICISMS THAT HE FADES FROM THE GOP AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE IS THAT HE DIDN'T TALK TO LEADERSHIP ABOUT HIS PLANS AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE MORE OF THAT.

WE HEARD THAT CONSTANT REFRAIN DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

>> EXCEPT FOR HE DID, AND WHAT THEY'RE REALLY CRYING ABOUT IS HE DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WANTED HIM TO DO.

THIS IS THE TEMPER TANTRUM THAT CASSIE IS TALKING ABOUT.

>> THEY WERE READING WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO IN THE NEWSPAPER, HEARING IT FROM REPORTERS ALL LAST YEAR, WHICH IS WHAT PROMPTED -- >> ELLEN, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, THAT'S ON THEM.

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> THAT'S ON THEM.

>> NO, IT NOT.

>> THE GOVERNOR KNOWS HOW TO REACH OUT AND GET THING DONE.

HE WAS WORKED WITH OUR SECRETARY OF STATE WHO IS A REPUBLICANS.

HE HAS WORKED WITH MITCH McCONNELL.

SO IF BOB STIVERS AND SPEAKER OSBORNE FELT LIKE THEY SAT AT THE LITTLE KIDS' TABLE THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN.

>> YOUR TALKING POINTS ARE EXCELLENT.

THAT'S NO ACCURATE.

>> THAT GOES ACCURATE.

>> IT'S NOT.

>> IT IS ACCURATE.

I UNDERSTAND THE BREAD AND BUTTERY IS TO COME AND SAY, NO, THEY REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH HIM.

NO, IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO WORK WITH HIM, THEY WOULD.

THOUGH THEY KNOWS NOT TO AND THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY BY THE COURT'S RULING.

THEY SHOWED THEY HAD NO PLAN, NO PLAN, NO CONCEPT OF HOW TO LEAD THIS COMMONWEALTH THROUGH THE MOST TRYING TIME THAT WE HAVE FACED.

>> PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE DICTATED TO.

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO BE DICTATED TO, ELLEN EXCUSE ME.

I HAVE NOT INTERRUPTED YOU.

>> YOU HAVE TALKED THE WHOLE TIME.

>> THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE DICTATED TO.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T WANT?

THEY DON'T WANT THEIR NANA'S DYING BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS CAN'T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN TO NOT BE IN SCHOOL BECAUSE ROBERT STIVERS AND REPUBLICAN CAUCUS COULDN'T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

SO WHEN YOU SEE MANDATES FROM THIS GOVERNOR, IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE AGAIN ONE PARTY WHO UNDERSTOOD THE GRAVITY OF THE MOMENT THAT WE WERE IN AND ONE WHO CHOSE TO PLAY POLITICS.

>> ELLEN, REBUT.

>> COVID WAS VERY SERIOUS AND IT AFFECTED ALL OF US IN REALLY SERIOUS WAYS, AND I'M NOTE HERE TO TALKING ABOUT PLAYING APPLICANTS PLUGS.

MY 87-YEAR-OLD FATHER ALMOST DIED.

HE WAS 13 DAYS IN ICU.

SO I GET IT.

I ALSOAL GET THAT WE ALL NEED TO COMMUNICATE, AND FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE LEADERS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE NOT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE OR FOR THEIR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS NOT TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, IT PUSHES THEM INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SET SOME PARAMETERS, AND YOU CAN'T HAVE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT GO ON AND ON AND ON.

THERE HAS TO BE AN END TIME SO THAT THEY CAN ALL THEN COME TOGETHER, BE FORCED TO COME TOGETHER, SO IS THE CASE AS IT IS NOW, AND DISCUSS IF WE NEED I LONGER THAN 60 DAYS OR 30 DAYS, WHATEVER -- WHAT IS THE LENGTH?

>> 30 DAYS.

>> THEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE TALK ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK A MISSING PIECE OF THIS IS THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE COMMENTS MADE, AS DISCUSSIONS HAVE GONE ON, THAT US IT'S A POWER GRAB BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT'S ROBERT STIVERS AND DAVID OSBORNE HOE WANT TO COME IN AND TAKE ALL THE POWER AWAY.

LET'S REMEMBER WHO ROBERT STIVERS AND DAVID OSBORNE AND EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WORK FOR.

THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S WHO LOOK AT THE THEM.

AND WHAT THEY HEARD -- WHO LOOK AT THE THEM WHAT THEY HEARD AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF YOU SHUTDOWN BE 1 COULDN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE CHILD CARE, WE SAW A RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN LEAVE THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR THEM TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN THOSE SCENARIOS.

SO I THINK THEY HEARD THE OUTCRY.

THEY LISTENED TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

THUS THEY TOOK ACTION TO TRY TO PUT SOME SMART PARAMETERS AROUND SO THINK IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON DICTATING WHAT THE RULES ARE.

>> SO LET'S RETURN -- >> I WOULD JUST ADD.

>> QUICKLY,.

>> -- THAT ANDY BARBIERI WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL OF KENTUCKY, AND HE DID THAT, AND IT ABSOLUTELY WAS A POWER GRAB.

AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THE SMART THINGS THAT THIS GOVERNOR WAS DOING WERE REBUFFED BY THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SMART THINGS THAT WERE SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THIS POWER GRAB WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD MATT BEVIN BEEN REELECTED.

THEY WOULD HAVE SAID, OH, WELL, HE'S A REPUBLICAN.

LET'S JUST ROLL WITH IT.

>> YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> LOOK -- >> AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLICIES WOULD HAVE BEEN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLICIES WOULD HAVE BEEN.

LET'S FAST FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, AND LET'S TALK ABOUT 2022, AND THERE WAS A STORY ABOUT SPEAKING OF HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE, IS IT A SERIOUS CONTENTION THAT HE MAY BE MULLING WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION?

>> OH, I THINK HE WILL ABSOLUTELY RUN.

I SEE NO REASON WHY HE WOULDN'T AT THIS POINT.

I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY TOO EARLY.

I THINK HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOBS A SPEAKER, AND SO I THINK -- I HAVE NO REASON TO THINK THAT HE WOULDN'T.

>> AND I THINK WHAT HE'S DOING, TOO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE FILINGS, HARDLY ANY HOUSE MEMBERS OR SENATE MEMBERS HAVE FILED, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING ON MAPS, AND THE MAPS ARE A CHALLENGE.

SO FOR SPEAKER OSBORNE TO FILE MAYBE WOULD INDICATE HE KNOWS HIS DISTRICT, AND SO LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER.

HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS MEMBERS SEE WHAT IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION OR NOT.

ABOUT.

>> TIME'S RUNNING DOWN FOR THAT.

>> IT IS RUNNING DOWN.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, IT WILL PROBABLY BE IN JANUARY.

THEY'LL PUSH THE FILING DEADLINE.

>> AND THEY CAN DO THAT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE BY LAW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE UNDERSTAND.

AND THEY'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.

>> BUT I DO THINK IT'S TOUGH IF YOU PUSH THE FILING DEADLINE.

WE HAVE HAD PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR DISTRICTS ARE.

THERE NEEDS TO BE CERTAINTY FOR CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO GET OUT THERE.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR TWO YEARS TO RUN WITH COVID AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SORT OF KNOCK DOORS IN THE SAME WAY OR GET OUT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND SO A OF THE LO PEOPLE ARE VERY EAGER TO GET OUT THERE.

I DO THINK -- SO WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE REDISTRICTING FROSTS FOR LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT REDRAWING OUR COUNCIL LINES, AND DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE OF THAT PROCESS.

WE HAD FOUR PUBLIC HEARING.

WE AMEND THE MAPS BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE TOOK A VERY THOROUGH LONG TIMELINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE BEING RESPONSIVE BECAUSE IT MATTERS.

MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED MATTERS.

WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT IF THIS SORT OF GETS RUSHED THROUGH BEHIND CLOSED DIVORCE, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- CLOSED DOORS, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VET THIS, TO TALK ABOUT WHY REPRESENTATION DOES OR DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

ARE WE REALLY GOING TO SEE SOME PROBLEMATIC DISTRICTS AND PROBLEMATIC GERRYMANDERING, SO I REALLY HOPE THAT WE GET TO SEE THE MAPS AND HAVE A ROBUST PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR THE MAP DRAWING HERE?

>> THE REPUBLICANS FIRST TIME EVER THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO DRAW THE MAPS.

THEY DIDN'T GET THE DATA UNTIL REALLY LATE BECAUSE OF COVID.

SO THEY'RE PROBABLY JUST NOW IN THE POSITION TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION.

AND THEY'VE ASKED THE GOVERNOR TO CALL IT.

>> WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> PROBABLY NONE.

>> BUT TO CASSIE AS POINT, IT IS.

TO ALLOW A MORE TRANSPARENCY PROCESS, ROBUST, SO THAT THE CONVERSATION IS JUST NEXT ONED ON REDISTRICTING, TO BE ABLE -- IF WE COULD TAKE THAT OFF OF THE PLATE OF AN ALREADY VERY BUSY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON, IT WOULD REALLY ALLOW MORE AIR TIME FOR OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES AS WELL.

>> IT JUST CHILLS EVERYTHING UNTIL THE MAPS ARE DONE, UNTIL FILING DEADLINE HAPPENS, SO.

>> I BELIEVE THE DATA AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT WE DEMOCRATS DID FOR COUNCIL AND SO WE HAD PRETTY PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE A ROBUST ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

WYE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE IT STAND IS NOW IS THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID I'LL TALL CALL YOU INTO SESSION WHEN YOU HAVE A PLAN SO THAT WE CAN GET IT DONE QUICKLY, AND I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE GOTTEN IT TOGETHER ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS, AND I IMAGINE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF INFIGHTING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE AREAS THAT HAVE LOST POPULATION ARE THE REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW THAT -- THERE'S NOT REALLY A FAIR COMMENT, EITHER.

WE MAKE A LOT OF, I ASSUME, I ASSUME.

SO WE'RE WORKING THE ON DISTRICTS.

THERE'S BEEN 3.8% I THINK POPULATION GROWTH IN KENTUCKY, PRIMARILY IN LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, BOWLING GREEN, NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

SO LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS WOULD BE MUCH EASIER THAN TRYING TO RECONFIGURE EAST AND WEST KENTUCKY.

>> WHICH HAVE LOST POPULATION.

>> 5% IN THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

AND YOU CAN'T JUST SPLIT COUNTIES WILLY-NILLY.

THEY HAVE TO BE OF A CERTAIN SIZE.

SO EAST OF I-75, THE ONLY COUNTIES YOU CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT SPLITTING ARE PIKE, LAUREL, MADISON, AND BOYD COUNTY.

AND SO THEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SMALL COUNTIES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME INTO THE CENTER PART OF THE STATE, AND THE SAME WITH THE WEST.

SO IT'S REALLY -- AND THEY DON'T WANT TO PIT INCUMBENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THEY ARE TRYING TO BE FAIR IN HOW THEY DRAW THE LINES, AND IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS, THEY LET THAT DELEGATION DEAL WITH THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> TYPICALLY THAT'S KIND OF THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY'VE HAD, YEAH.

>> AND WE ASSUME THAT THEY'RE OPERATING UNDER THAT SAME HISTORICAL PATTERN.

>> CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

>> COLMON, WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> NO.

>> ANY MORE ON REDISTRICTING?

>> A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD BE REALLY NICE.

>> AND WE'LL PROBABLY DO A SHOW ON THAT, TOO, IN THE COMING MONTH ABOUT THAT.

>> JUST LAST WEEK -- WAS IT LAST WEEK THAT THE SPEAKER SAID TO -- AND I WILL GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR THIS -- TO RUSH IT WOULD BE AN ERROR.

MEANWHILE, YOU HAVE THE SENATE WHO IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT.

SO I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HEARSAY OR MAKING UP STORIES.

I THINK THOSE TWO CAUCUSES NEED TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR PLAN IS.

AND THEN GO TO THE ONE PERSON I KNOW THEY TRIED TO STRIP THE GOVERNOR OF THIS AS WELL, BUT GO TO THE ONE PERSON WHO CAN CALL THE SPECIAL SESSION, AND AND SEE WHERE WE END UP.

>> THE HOUSE HAS A CHALLENGE.

THEY'RE DRAWING 100 DISTRICTS.

SENATE 38.

SO IF THEY DO A SPECIAL SESSION, IF THE GOVERNOR WOULD CALL IT, IT'S STILL NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY TO DELAY A FILING DECLINED SO PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TIME TO LOOK TEMPTS, TO SEE WHERE THEY LIVE, TO SEE IF IT FITS FOR THEM TO RUN OR NOT, AND WE'LL BE -- I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE IT.

>> BUT THE GOVERNOR WOULDN'T CALL THEM BEFORE THEY HAD A PLAN OR PLANS.

>> AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THEY'D GIVE HIM INPUT IN A PLAN.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T AFFECT HIM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO NEXT YEAR IS A I LEARN BUDGET SESSION.

THAT'S BIG.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE KIND OF ISSUES.

ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT I KNOW WE GET ASKED ABOUT A LOT IS MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK IT'S GOT A SHOT.

>> AND JASON NEMES SEEMS TO THINK THAT THIS IS THE YEAR.

IS THIS SOMETHING WE AGREE ON?

[LAUGHTER] OKAY.

FINALLY A BREAKTHROUGH P. >> I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY THING SO FAR.

>> SO FAR.

>> IT TOOK US 45 MINUTES TO GET THERE BUT, BIAL GOLLY, HERE WE ARE.

JASON NEMES WHO HAS SPONSORED THIS BEFORE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HOUSE BILL 136, HE REPORTEDLY SAYS HE FEELS REALLY GOOD ABOUT 2022.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME AROUND?

>> I THINK YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, CHAIRMAN WHITNEY WESTERFIELD, MEMBERS OF LEADERSHIP WHO HAVE JUST REALLY L. REALLY APPROACHED IT AND REPRESENTATIVE NEMES HAS BEEN WILLING TO GO LINE BY LINE AND REALLY REVIEW THE BILL AND FRY TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.

I THINK SOME OF THESE ISSUES, AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND, THERE ARE EVEN BIGGER ISSUES IN FRANKFORT.

THEY TAKE SEVERAL YEARS.

>> WELL, USUALLY.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THE BOTTLE BILL?

20 YEARS.

YOU REMEMBER THAT, ELLEN.

THAT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE SCENE.

>> I DO.

I THINK IT HAS A GOOD SHOT.

>> KWE'S ONE OF 14 STATES THAT HAVEN'T LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IF ANYBODY IS CURIOUS.

II MODERATED HUH FORUM LAST WEEK WITH THE HOSPITAL SITUATION, AND KIM MOSER WHO IS THE CHARITY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE -- IT'S A DIFFERENT NAME FOR THAT SIDE OF THE CHAMBER -- SAID THAT SHE'S GOING TO FILE THE KENTUCKY CANNABIS RESEARCH BILL AGAIN, SO SHE'S NOT QUITE CONVINCED THAT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAN -- IS MEDICINE.

AND SHE SAYS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE RESEARCH ABOUT THE MEDICAL PROPERTIES BEFORE YOU START CALLING IT MEDICINE.

SAYS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY LIKE THE KENTUCKY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND PROBABLY KHA IS NOT REALLY ON BOARD FOR THIS, SO THERE'S SOME RUB THERE.

NOT EVERYBODY IS FALLING IN LINE ON THIS EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

THERE'S SO MANY DIVISION IN THE HOUSE CAUCUS.

>> I THINK THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE -- NOW WE HAVE TWO DOCTORS, THREE DOCTORS IN THE STATE SENATE, I.

AND I ARE THINK THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND THAT WORLD JUST ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE HESITANT TOTE DB PLAN ONBOARD.

I THINK THE RESEARCH COMPONENT, LOOKING AT THE RIGOROUS REVIEW, WE PUT FOOTBALL AND OTHER TREATMENTS THROUGH, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WILLER HA OF HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT.

I THINK -- I'M NO EXPERT, AND I DON'T LOBBY THAT ISSUE.

I JUST WATCH IT FROM AFAR.

AND IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH AS IT WILL HAS PROGRESSED.

PEOPLE HAVE REALLY BEEN WILLING TO LEARN MORE SO THEIR MIND OF CHANGED SOMEWHAT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A SLAM DUNK BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT THAT WE COULD SEE A POSITIVE PASS.

>> AND I THINK WHAT'S DIFFERENT, YOU ASKED, RENEE, WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS SESSION, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU MIGHT FEEL HOPEFUL ABOUT SOME OF THESE BILLS FINALLY GETTING TO MOVE.

I THINK WEIGH NO DEALING WITH COVID AS MUCH THIS SESSION.

I THINK THERE'S A BACK LOG OF ISSUES THAT PEOPLE CAN AGREE ON, THINGS LIKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, MAYBE THINGS LIKE CHILD CARE IF IT ISN'T FULLY CERTIFIED IN THE BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA.

I THINK THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAN COME TOGETHER ON, AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HOPEFULLY, FINGERS CROSSED, BE DEALING WITH SORT OF EMERGENCY COVID SITUATIONS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES.

>> THE WORKER SHORTAGE.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO GET PEOPLE TO TAKE SOME OF THESE JOBS.

WE HAVE SO MANY OPEN JOBS.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING CHILD CARE, IS THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T GET WORKERS TO TAKE CHILD CARE JOBS, AND THEY'VE SEEN ONE OUT OF FOUR WOMEN IN KERRY STILL OUT OF WORK AND WOULD WANT TO RETURN BUT THEY DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE, SO THIS IS SOMETHING TOUCHING EVERY COMMUNITY AND THERE'S A ROLE FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES TO ALL WORK TOGETHER ON.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY IN TERMS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA, I THINK ALSO THE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THE HUMAN COMPONENT.

YOU KNOW, WE TEND TO DO GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS, THE POLITICS.

WHEN YOU HAVE VETERANS ACROSS -- ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SAY, LOOK, THIS SAVED MY LIFE, I COME FROM A FAMILY THAT HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY EPILEPSY, AND THE DATA AND THE RESEARCH ABOUT HOW MEMORABILIA MARIJUANA ABSOLUTELY DOES HELP WITH SEIZURES, FOR CHILDREN ALL THE WAY UP TO ADULTS, IT'S GETTING TO A POINT OF BEING IRREFUTABLE.

AND SO I THINK THE HUMAN COMPONENT WELLS MOVES THE NEEDLE, AND THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY TIMES YOU CAN HEAR THOSE STORIES FROM THOSE ADVOCATES WHO SHOW UP YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR BEFORE YOU JUST ABSOLUTELY KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AND BEING ONE OF 14 STATES IN THIS REGARD, I DON'T THINK BODE WELL FOR US.

SO IN ALL HOPE, I HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT POLITICS ASIDE ON AND SAY, WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE FOLKS.

>> SENATOR WESTERFIELD HAS SAID.

HE AND NEMES HAVE GONE ALMOST LINE BY LINE THROUGH THE BILL AND ARE IF WE PASS THIS BILL IT WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT SENATOR WESTERFIELD HAS HEARD FROM A LOT OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

>> THEIR LIVES ARE AFFECTED, AND THAT CANNOT BE LOST IN THAT CONVERSATION.

>> HURRAY.

ONE POINT FOR CONSENSUS BUILDING.

SCHOOL CHOICE MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU AGREE ON, AND WE WON'T TRY TO DEBATE ALL THAT HERE, BUT WE DOUGH KNOW THERE WORKFORCE HOUSING A RECENT POLL THAT SHOWED 71% OF KENTUCKY'S LIKELY VOTERS SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED TO ALLOW FOR PRIVATE FUNDING OF STUDENT TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR NON-PUBLICCAL SCHOOLS AND, OF COURSE, THIS INCLUDES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TOO, SO WE MAY SEE SOME MORE ACTION ON THAT CONSIDERING WHATEVER THE SUPREME COURT, KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT DOES THERE.

ANYBODY WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT BEFORE I JUST TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I THINK AS LONG AS IT'S IN THE COURTS, THEY'LL PROBABLY -- >> LET THAT -- >> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

SO THERE ARE OR IT SEEMS TO BE THERE ARE A LOT OF RETIREMENTS IN KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

REGINA HUFF, CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

DENNIS PARROT, ELIZABETHTOWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING, JUST LIKE BEFORE WE WENT ON AIR, ELLEN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY JUDGES, JUDGE EXECUTIVES WHO ARE CHOOSING TO RETIRE.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> IT'S HARD TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT.

THE ISSUES ARE CHALLENGING.

COVID TOOK A LOT OUT OF EVERYBODY.

OUR COUNTY JUDGES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE ON THE FRONTLINE.

A LOT OF OUR LEGISLATOR HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

ALICE FORGY KERR.

HORNBACK.

>> PAUL HORNBACK.

>> SCHROEDER JUST HAD HIS THURD CHILD SO HE IS LEAVING TO GO BE WITH HIS YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART-TIME.

THEY WORK ALL THE TIME AT HOME, IN FRANKFORT.

I MEAN, NOBODY LEAVES THEM ALONE BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE SO BIG.

>> AND CASSIE AND I WERE JUST TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE, CAMPAIGNS ARE ALWAYS SO NASTY.

I MEAN, IT'S A REALITY.

>> THE COST OF A STATE LEGISLATIVE RACE IS WHAT NOWADAYS?

>> IT'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

I AM, THE MONEY, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO FIND TIME TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIND TIME THAT TAKES YOU AWAY FROM POSSIBLY A GROWING FAMILY TO CAMPAIGN.

CAMPAIGNS ON BOTH SIDES, NOBODY IS IMMUNE TO THIS, BUT THEY'VE JUST NOH NASTIER.

WE'VE LOST SOME CIVILITY IN CAMPAIGNING.

AND IT HAS BEEN HARDER TO CAMPAIGN AND NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE DURING COVID, AND SO IT WAS -- I DON'T THINK THAT LIGHT WITCH IS JUST GOING TO FLIP BACK TIE NORMAL CAMPAIGN STYLE.

SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE -- LOOK BACK AT THEIR CAREER IN LEGISLATURE AND THINK THERE ARE A OF THE LO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THROW THEIR HAT IN THE RING AND MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GO HOME.

>> AND THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND WANT TO SERVE, AND I MEAN, I SAW IT ON THE STATE PARTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

I STEPPED AWAY BUT THERE'S LOTS OF REALLY YOUNG ONES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED, AND I THINK THERE'S A GROWING SENTIMENT THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO STEP UP.

>> IS THERE A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR A STATE LEGISLATIVE RACE AMONGST US?

>> NOT ME.

[LAUGHTER] >> NO?

>> I LOVE BEING ON METRO COUNCIL.

IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE.

AND I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THAT NOW IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME TO BE IN IT WITH ALL THE MONEY FLOWING FROMMAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOWN TOAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE DECISIONS AROUND COVID.

I HOPE THAT REPUBLICANS WITH THEIR SORT OF THINKING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN THIS SESSION WILL BELIEVE LOUISVILLE SHOULD HAVE MORE AUTONOMY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR ITSELF AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT LOUISVILLE HAS A LOT OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES.

IT'S BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THOSE IN THE LOUISVILLE MERIT COUNCIL.

>> ANYONE ELSE THINKING OF RUNNING FOR ANYTHING WHO IS SITTING HERE?

JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

>> I'M NOT GIVING IT -- I STILL HAVE TO GO HOME TONIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] SO NO.

>> YOU CAN TELL US.

>> HEY, JUST WHISPER IT.

>> LOOK, I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS TO KIND OF GO BACK VERY QUICKLY TO WHERE WE BEGAN, ONE OF THE REASONS I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT '22, '23 AND '24 THAT I REALLY DO SEE, AS ELLEN SAID, A NEW GENERATION COMING UP AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE'RE IN A FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF OUR NATION, AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM DEMOCRATS ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH THAT ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT EVERY LEVEL IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A FIGHT FOR THE HEART OF OUR COMMONWEALTH, AND SO PUT ME IN, WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL BOARD OR AT THE CITY, COUNTY LEVEL OR BEYOND.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WITH EVERYTHING THAT I AM THAT WHEN YOU EMPOWER THAT GENERATION, THAT NEW GENERATING, THAT NEW WAY OF THINKING, IT REALLY CAN MOVE A STATE, A CITY, A COUNTY FORWARD, AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DENNIS PARROT, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO KNOW THAT HE IS RETIRING, BUT I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT SOME OF THESE SEATS BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE ENERGY OF FOLKS WHO WANT TO STEP UP AND WANT TO LEAD.

>> SO ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC IN 2 2S THAT YOU CAN MARINARA SOME OF ATHLETES MESSENGERS IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT?

>> VERY OPTIMISTIC.

>> DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A NUMBER ON HOW MANY YOU CAN CAPTURE.

>> I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

>> WHAT MAKES YOU SO OPTIMISTIC?

>> AGAIN, SO E. I DON'T SEE FOLKS RUNNING AWAY FROM THIS PARTY AND STANDING UP AND SAYING, I'M A DEMOCRAT, THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE.

>> ARE THEY PROGRESSIVE OR ARE THEY MIL OF THE ROAD CENTRISTS?

>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.

AND FOLKS THAT UNDERSTAND THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND TO SERVE THOSE COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I BECAME CHAIR WHERE I FEEL I COULD NEVER GET FOLKS TO RAISE THEIR HAND.

I TALK TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN PLACES YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE WHO ARE DEMOCRATS, THEY'RE PROUD TO BE DEMOCRATS, AND THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE IT.

>> THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT WE JUST HAD, THAT TRIO DIDN'T SEEM TO BODE WELL.

>> THOSE WERE ADMITTEDLY TOUGH DISTRICTS FOR US.

I WOULD ALSO POINT BACK TO, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY KAREN BERG, FOLK DIDN'T SAY -- FOLKS SAID WE COULDN'T WIN THAT ONE AND WE DID.

SO I'M EXTRAORDINARILY OPTIMISTIC NOT ONLY ABOUT 2022.

I'M EXTRAORDINARILY EXCITED ABOUT GOVERNOR GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S RE-ELECTION.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT ENERGY AND MOVE INTO '24.

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY AROUND SOME OF THE LOUISVILLE RACES THAT WERE CLOSE WHEN YOU HAD DONALD TRUMP ON BALLOT, A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

YOU HAD HIGH REPUBLICAN TURNOUT.

SO I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT RACES LIKE KEN FLEMING IN THE 48th, MAYBE IN MARIA SER OLLIS RUNS OR ANY DEMOCRAT, THAT WAS A CLOSE RACE.

>> THAT, A THIRD-TIME REMATCH FOR THEM IF SHE WERE TO GET BACK IN?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S A VERY WINNABLE SEAT.

I THINK JASON NEM SAYS AN INCREASINGLY DEMOCRAT DISTRICT AND HE'S NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THAT DISTRICT SO THAT'S A POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC.

LAST TIME THAT WAS A KEVIN CAN YOU GO LER-SUZANNE -- >> BUT HE ALWAYS COMES OUT.

>> JASON NEMES KNOWS THAT DISTRICT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS.

>> PEOPLE COUNT OUT KEVIN BRATCHER TOO.

>> I THINK THOSE ARE TWO THE DEMOCRATS ALWAYS LIKE.

IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RACES, THOSE ARE TWO THAT DEMOCRATS THINK ARE IN PLAY.

BUT THE REALITY IS THOSE GUYS KNOW THAT DISTRICT AND THEY FIT THAT DISTRICT WELL.

>> I THINK INCREASINGLY LESS SO.

I MEAN, JASON NEMES' DISTRICT IS TRENDING DEMOCRAT AND HE'S TRENDING FAR MORE CONSERVATIVE, AND SO I THINK HE IS INCREASINGLY FAR OUT OF STEP AND INCREASINGLY VULNERABLE.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THAT ONE.

>> I THINK TO TALKING ABOUT THESE RACES, IT IS A LITTLE BIT PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE THE RACERS GOING TO REALLY BE UNTIL WE SEE THE MAPS, RIGHT?

I WILL SAY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE -- I WON'T SPEAK FOR YOU GUYS -- BUT OAT REPUBLICAN SIDE NO MATTER THE WHAT DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE, PRIMARIES ARE GOING TO BE WHERE OUR GAME IS.

>> WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT TYPICALLY WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A LOT OF HEALTHY AND ROBUST PRIMARIES.

GET READY.

IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, GET USED TO HAVING THESE HEALTHY PRIMARIES.

>> AND SO WHAT KIND OF INCARCERATES GOING TO BE PITTED AGAINST -- YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CENTRIST REPUBLICANS, MORE FAR RIGHT LEANING OR -- YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYBODY.

>> IT DEPENDS ON KIND OF WHICH PART OF THE STATE BECAUSE DIFFERENT PARTS CARE ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES, BUT I DON'T SEE ANYWAY IN THE WORLD THAT THE BALANCE OF POWER SHIFTS EVEN A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THE SENATE WILL HAVE 30 OR 31, SOME SAY 32 SEATS AFTER THE 2022 ELECTIONS, AND 75 IS A LOT FOR REPUBLICANS TO HAVE IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK THEY HOLD IT.

MAYBE THEY PICK UP A FEW MORE.

BUT IF THEY LOSE ANY, IT MIGHT BE ONE, MAYBE TWO.

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE THAT SHIFTING AT ALL.

AND CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, THIRD DISTRICT IS KIND OF THE BLUE DISTRICT IN OUR STATE.

AND THE RAND PAUL-BOOKER RACE, I THINK RAND PAUL, EVEN DEMOCRATS SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT ARE FOR BOOKER.

SO WE ARE JUST A VERY RED, VERY CONSERVATIVE-LEANING STATE WHO LIKE THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY OUR SUPER MAJORITY.

>> WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE RACE AND WE SHOULD.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU LIKE 30 SECOND.

>> NO, I'LL JUST SAY I -- AGAIN, I LIKE OUR CHANCES.

I BELIEVE WE ARE A CONSERVATIVE STATE BUT WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE NOT WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS WEEK.

>> WE'RE NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BECOME.

>> WE ARE NO WHAT -- WE'RE NOT WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BECOME.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY ANDY BESHEAR WAS ABLE TO WIN.

>> HE WON BECAUSE MATT BEVIN COULDN'T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HE WON WITH A PRESIDENT TRUMP IN OFFICE.

SO I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT OUR CHANCES.

ELLEN, BOURBON'S ON ME.

[LAUGHTER] I'LL LET YOU KNOW -- >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE RACES IN 202?

>> I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT A MY FAVORITE BOURBON IS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL.

>> IN 2022 AND 2023.

>> WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN, I GUARANTEE.

>> WE NEED TO DO THIS AFTER WE KNOW DISTRICTS.

>> THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

NEXT MONDAY -- >> LET ME HAVE EQUAL TIME TO COL MOAN NEXT TIME.

>> I THINK IT WAS FAIR.

>> HE NEEDS A BUZZER.

>> NEXT WEEK NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS.

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